Alternative Buffer Management Strategies To Achieve Downstream Process Improvements

By Pranav Vengsarkar, Manager, Process Development, Avantor

There has been significant change across the biomanufacturing industry over the last couple of decades, as increased complexity of biologics and a growing focus on smaller patient populations have led to a greater need for cost control and process efficiency.

As productivity has improved as a result, so too have titers and other areas of process development. These advancements in science and technology offer exciting promise in drug development; however, they also create challenges for those still utilizing legacy processes and systems.

For example, while buffer preparation and management can be carried out in multiple ways, an established approach is to manufacture buffers in house with the use of Water-for-Injection (WFI) to hydrate powders in stainless-steel or single-use tanks. Although this method is established and ideal for large volumes, it requires significant infrastructure, including the footprint needed for large tanks and for warehouse space for holding as well as weighing and dispensing areas for raw materials.

There are other approaches to this critical bioprocessing step, although each call on capabilities and expertise that may not exist at some companies and/or are difficult to obtain. Understanding not only the alternative buffer management strategies available, but the resources that are needed to execute them can help ensure you have the tools necessary to remain competitive in today’s growing bioprocessing industry.